Chang Buri Resort & Spa — a leafy garden resort with two pools and a bay-view hillside pool at White Sand Beach
If you want a White Sand Beach resort that's about leafy gardens and a bay-view pool rather than the buzz of a beachfront strip, Chang Buri Resort & Spa is a name Koh Chang regulars mention as a calm, well-priced stay. It sits at the south end of White Sand Beach (Hat Sai Khao) and splits into two wings — a seaside wing running from deluxe rooms up to pool villas with private pools, and a hillside wing across the road with a lovely curved bay-view pool. Around 110 rooms, two pools, a spa and a garden restaurant. From approx. THB 1,600/night, scored 8.7 from around 135 reviews.
Chang Buri Resort & Spa sits at the south end of White Sand Beach (Hat Sai Khao), the most popular beach on Koh Chang. What guests agree on most is the leafy, peaceful setting — the resort has well-kept gardens and big shade trees, and although it's close to the beach's bar area, it still feels calm inside. The property runs to around 110 rooms and splits clearly into two wings, a seaside wing and a hillside wing across the public road, each with its own pool.
The difference between the two wings is worth knowing before you book. The seaside wing ranges from Deluxe Seaside rooms and Deluxe Suites with an in-room Jacuzzi to Pool Side Villas, Pool Villas and Pool Suite Villas with their own private pools — ideal if you want privacy and a bigger budget. The hillside wing holds Superior rooms of around 30 sqm at a friendlier price, in a building that looks out over the bay, and it's the side with the curved bay-view pool that reviews single out as the highlight here.
"The hillside pool with its bay view is gorgeous — you can sit with a drink and watch the sea all afternoon. Shady gardens, friendly staff, and far quieter than we expected given how close the bar street is."
The thing to be clearest about: the shoreline in front of the resort is rocky, not a sandy beach you can swim from. Many reviews stress that you can't swim in the sea here and need to walk about 5–10 minutes north to reach the sandy stretch of central White Sand Beach. That makes this a resort for travellers who prioritise the pool over swimming straight off the beach. There are two pools — the curved bay-view hillside pool and a smaller seaside pool, plus a children's pool — a spa offering Thai massage and treatments, and a restaurant serving Thai and Western dishes with a pool bar.
There are two honest caveats. First, some rooms feel dated and the décor is showing its age — a few reviews note the older seaside rooms and some tired woodwork, so check photos and the room category before booking if you want a room in good condition. Second, the far-end location is a little removed from the beach's restaurants and shops, so you'll walk or grab a ride, and in high season the nearby bar area (locally nicknamed 'Little Pattaya') can carry music at night — rooms closer to the road may hear some of it.
On location overall — it's at the south end of White Sand Beach, a 5–10 minute walk to the sand and the central cluster of restaurants. It's about 10–15 minutes by car to Klong Prao Beach and 15–20 minutes to Kai Bae. Getting here from Bangkok means driving to the Trat-side piers (Laem Ngop / Ao Thammachat / Centrepoint), taking the car ferry across to Koh Chang, then a songthaew or taxi to White Sand Beach, which is in the north of the island and closest to the piers. A 8.7 from around 135 Trip.com reviews is a solid, steady score for a resort in this price band.
The honest summary: Chang Buri Resort & Spa is a quiet, well-priced garden resort for travellers who care more about the pool and the relaxed atmosphere than a sandy beach in front of the room. The bay-view hillside pool is lovely, the gardens are shady, and there's a wide spread of rooms from budget to private-pool villas. The trade-offs are the rocky shore you can't swim from, some dated rooms, and a far-end location a short walk from the shops. Accept those three things and it offers value and calm that's hard to find on White Sand Beach at this price.
A tip from reading many reviews here: for the view on a budget, pick a Superior hillside room near the bay-view pool; for privacy, choose a seaside pool villa. Ask for a room away from the road if you're a light sleeper in high season. Don't expect a beach in front of your room — plan to walk to the sand to swim in the sea. In high season (November–February), book ahead and lock in free cancellation first, then compare platforms. The rainy season is quiet and cheaper on Koh Chang, but some days bring rough seas, so check the weather and ferry times before you go.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Lovely bay-view hillside pool, great for sitting out all day
- ✓ Leafy, shady gardens and a calm, restful atmosphere
- ✓ Friendly staff and good service
- ✓ Good value with a wide range of room types for the budget
- ! Rocky shoreline in front — you can't swim in the sea here
- ! Some rooms are dated and the décor is showing its age
- ! Far-end location, a little removed from the beach's restaurants and shops
- ✓ Tropical garden-resort feel, shady and peaceful
- ✓ Pretty bay-view pool, ideal if you prioritise the pool
- ✓ Pool villas with private pools, good for couples or honeymoons
- ✓ Closest beach to the piers, so easy to get on and off the island
- ! No sandy beach in front — you walk to the central beach to swim
- ! Older seaside rooms can feel well-used
- ! Nearby bar area carries music at night in high season
- 💡If you want to wake up and step onto a sandy beach to swim — the shore in front is rocky, with a 5–10 minute walk to the sand → choose a directly beachfront resort on White Sand Beach, or accept that you'll focus on the pool instead.
- 💡If you want a fresh, modern room — some rooms are dated and the décor is showing its age → check photos and the room category before booking, and pick a renovated room or a pool villa.
- 💡If you're a light sleeper in high season — the nearby bar area carries music at night, and rooms near the road may hear it → ask for a room set further back, away from the road.